CULLOWHEE, N.C. — Darreion Robinson has been a Georgia Southern Eagle for a long time.

Since head coach Jeff Monken came to the program in 2010, Robinson, then a sophomore, has had his fair share of brakeout plays, but Saturday in GSU’s 45-13 win against Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C., Robinson finally had that breakout game.

Robinson, who has played in 43 games and started 15, set a career high against WCU with 11 carries for 124 yards, leading a GSU rushing attack that piled on 614 on the day.

"A lot of the guys depend on me, being a senior," said Robinson, who opened the scoring with a 48-yard touchdown trot early in the first quarter. "The offensive line, they played great, the slotbacks, all of us block for each other, and I’m just thankful."

Robinson has also made a name as a punt returner. He returned four punts with a long of 30 yards in the game.

His teammates know that usually, no matter how close the pursuing defenders are, he’s going to try and return it.

"The fellas, they know I’m not going to call a fair catch, so they’re already looking for someone to block," Robinson said.

 

That’s better

Against Samford on Sept. 29, the Eagles were 0 for 10 on third-down conversions.

Against the Catamounts, the Eagles were 11 of 15, making the first six straight conversions. The previous high for the Eagles was seven third-down conversions in a game. They racked up 33 first downs against the Catamounts.

 

Last time against WCU…

Coming into the game, quarterback Jerick McKinnon had one career touchdown pass. It was a 20-yarder to Kentrellis Showers on Sept. 24, 2011 against Western Carolina.

Saturday at Western, McKinnon threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Showers again.

For good measure, McKinnon added a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tray Butler.

"I didn’t plan that," McKinnon said about the mirror-image touchdown passes. "Me and ’Trell have a connection, I guess."

The WCU game also marked the ninth time in school history that Georgia Southern had three 100-yard rushers in a single game. Robinson (124), Dominique Swope (117) and William Banks (101) each scored a touchdown, and James Deam (5-95) and McKinnon (14-90) came close.

The last time three Eagles tallied 100 yards in a game? You guessed it — Sept. 24, 2011 against Western Carolina.

The margin of victory in Saturday’s 45-13 win was also the same as the 2011 contest — 32 points.

 

Keep it going

Georgia Southern has defeated Western Carolina 17-straight times. It is the longest such streak between any two Southern Conference teams.

Western’s last win over the Eagles came on Oct. 8, 1994. The Catamounts have never won in Statesboro.

NOTES

 

 

: The Eagles rushed for 614 yards against WCU. It was the fourth-largest total in school history. … Dominique Swope has now scored a touchdown in six-straight games. … The Eagles’ field goal drive before half time lasted for 16 plays and 86 yards, both season highs. … Announced attendance for the game, which was Western Carolina’s homecoming, was 9,514.

 

Matt Yogus may be reached at (912) 489-9408.